Beautiful engraving of this variety of gladiolus, flanked by smaller depictions of bulb and interior of flower. The Belgian, Pierre Joseph Redoute, ‘Raphael of flowers’, was patronized at the French court by Marie Antoinette, and after the revolution by Napoleon and Josephine. He was a master at the delicate art of stipple engraving. These original prints are much sought after and the designs often applied to china. Engraved by Challiou.